Hollow bowling pin



United States Patent Office 31,224,769 Patented Dec. 21, 1965 3,224,769HOLLOW BWLING PIN Claude H. Nickell, 17809 (Bakwood Blvd., Dearborn,Mich. Filed Dec. 12, 1961, Ser. No. 158,758 5 Claims. (Cl. 273-82) Thisinvention relates to avocational and recreational activities of varioustypes, intended both to afford necessary exercise for health and toattract and retain the attention for entertainment, and to thefacilities and equipment utilized in the performance of such avocationaland recreational activities.

The invention relates particularly to the game of bowling in which pinsare set either by hand or by mechanical pin setters, on alleys orelsewhere, to be struck by bowling balls projected down the alleys byplayers, and in which the pins are subjected to severe punishment onaccount of being struck by the balls, and by then being gripped by themechanical pin setters, contact with the alleys and with the side andrear walls adjacent thereto.

Bowling pins have been produced of various kinds and of variousmaterials, including of wood, metal, and combinations thereof as well asof other substances. Bowling pins heretofore produced have beenunsatisfactory for numerous reasons including shortness of life due tovarious causes such as fatigue failure, lack of uniformity and balance,weight variation because of differences in moisture content, and thenecessity of repairs to or replacement of the pins.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved bowling pin ofattractive appearance, simple and inexpensive construction, of uniformsize, shape, weight and balance, which will have maximum life as well asbe capable of resurfacing or other repairs at any time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bowling pin of a hollowshell of metal or other material and which shell can be evacuated o1charged to prevent changes in characteristics subsequent to manufacturedue to variations in moisture content, and which pin includes a surfaceof plastic and can be statically and dynamically balanced.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bowling pin having ahollow shell of multiple longitudinal shell segments, fastened togetherin end to end relation by an axial rod, with internal transversesupports in such hollow shell, the end segments of such shell beingprovided with axial openings by which the shell can be mounted on amachine by which static and dynamic balance can be -determined withmeans for evacuating or charging the interior of the shell, and saidshell being provided with a separate reinforced base of metal or othersubstance and covered with plastic or other material.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken from the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. l is a bowling pin half of which is in section and the other halfin side elevation and illustrating one application of the invention;

FIG. 2, an enlarged fragmentary detail of the bottom end of the pin; and

FIG. 3, a similar view of a modied construction.

Briefly stated, the bowling pin of the present invention is composed ofa hollow shell of metal or other material of lower, intermediate, andupper shell segments, for example, of metal castings fastened togetherby a rod through the axes thereof with such rod having external threadson its ends engaging complementary threads on the lower and uppershells, the upper shell being rotatable relative to the intermediateshell until the proper torque is obtained. The shell assembly is testedby balancing apparatus to obtain proper balance both statically anddynamically; if unbalanced the shell is taken apart and the necessaryweights for balancing are added around the center rod after which theparts are reassembled and a surface covering or coating is provided ofplastic or other substance. After the surfacing material or outercoating has been applied a cap screw and gasket are fitted at the upperend and a special tool (not shown) is threaded into the base of theshell for the purpose of reducing or increasing the internal pressure ofthe shell, such tool having means for effecting a tight seal within theend of the shell and for introducing a sealing plug driven into placefrom a pressure cylinder (not shown); thereafter a weighted base isapplied to the shell and fixed in place by a screw.

With continued reference to the drawing, the bowling pin of the presentinvention has an inner shell of multiple castings of metal or othermaterial, of die castings 10, 11 and 12. The lower shell or die casting10l has a bottom 13 which terminates in a tubular axial portion 14 and atubular axial portion 15 of smaller diameter and with internal threads16, such axial portion having a tubular axial extension or sleeve 17with internal threads 18. The die casting 10 is provided at its upperend with a shoulder 19 and a portion 20 of enlarged diameter in which isreceived a reinforcing ring or support 21 having weight reducingopenings 22, a rim 23, and an axial hub 24. The lower half of the rim 23of the ring or support 21 is received and contained in the portion ofenlarged diameter 20 of the casting 10. Upon the upper extremity of thelower casting 10 is located a gasket 25 to provide a seal between thecontiguous ends 20 and 27 respectively of the lower and intermediatesleeve section. The upper sleevehas a tubular axial portion 37 withinternal threads 41 of constant size and character.

The intermediate casting 11 likewise is provided at its lower end with ashoulder 26 and an enlarged portion 27 in which the upper half of therim 23 of the ring 21 is received, thus providing a good connectionbetween the lower and intermediate castings and with such connectionreinforced by the supporting ring or casting 21. The construction issuch that the shoulders 19 and 26 bear firmly against the lower andupper portions of the rim 23 of the ring 21 with the gasket 25compressed when the parts are in final` position.

The die castings may be additionally reinforced in any desired manner,for example, the die casting 11 may be provided with a transversesupport or web 2S having a central bore 29 and with one or more openings30 for reduction of weight.

The upper end of the die casting 11 is provided with a shoulder 31 and acylindrical portion 32 of larger diameter in which is received the lowerextremity 33 of the casting 12, such extremity being of reduced externaldiameter and providing a shoulder 34. The extremity 33 is of a lengthless than the length of the portion 32 of enlarged diameter of thecasing 11 and is freely rotatable therein. A gasket 35 is locatedbetween the upper extremity of the die casting 11 and the shoulder 34 ofthe die casting 12, such gasket being of a character to provide a sealbut to offer minimum resistance to rotation.

The gaskets 25 and 35 prevent the surface layer of molded materialapplied under pressure from flowing inwardly Vbetween the adjacent edgesof the lower and intermediate shell portions.

The upper shell or die casting 12 is provided on its closed end withsockets 36 for the reception of a Spanner or the like wrench (notshown).

The die castings 10, 11, and 12 when assembled provide -a hollow shellthe parts of which are adapted to be fastened together by a central oraxial rod 38 having external threads 39 on its lower end and externalthreads 40 on its upper end, such rod being shorter than the combinedlength of the three shells, the threads 39 and 4t) on the opposite endsof the rod being adapted to engage complementary threads 18 and 41 ofthe lower shell and the tubular axial portion 37 of the upper shell.

In assembling the three parts of the casting the rod 38 is screwed intothe axial extension or sleeve 17 of the lower die casting and sealedtherein by means of a compound 42 against leakage and free rotation.Thereafter the transverse ring or support 2l is placed downwardly overthe rod 33 and fitted in the enlarged portion 20 of the upper end of thelower die casting 10, after which the gasket 25 is applied followed bythe die casting 11 'which is fitted downwardly over the rod 38 and therim 23 of the support 21.

The lower and intermediate castings 10 and 11 having been combined, thegasket 35 is placed over the upper extremity of the die casting 11 andthe reduced lower extremity 33 `of the die casting 12 is inserted withinthe enlarged portion 32 of the intermediate die casting 11 and rotatedby hand and then by a spanner wrench tting into the recesses or sockets36 to cause the threads 39 and 40 to engage the threads 18 and 41 of thecastings 10 and 12 to secure the parts in tightly assembled relation andat the desired torque or pressure.

Balance may be established by the addition of a weight W, and withadditional weights W and W to the rod 38. When balance has beenestablished and the castings 10, 11 and 12 have been reassembled at theprescribed torque value, the assembly is placed in a mold and hasapplied to its surface in any desired manner as for eX- ample byinjection molding or other process a plastic 43, such as polyethylene,to provide .a relatively hard durable surface. After the molding iscompleted a closure is applied to the upper end yof the sleeve 37, suchclosure having an externally threaded shank 44 with a fibrous insert `ofnylon or other material 4S to insure self-locking, such closure havingan enlarged head 46 beneath which a gasket 47 is compressed against theupper end of the sleeve 37 for sealing the upper end of the assembly.

In order to supply or remove air from the interior of the shell formedby the die castings 10, 11 and 12 the rod 38 is provided with atransverse opening 49 which communicates with an axial -opening 48terminating in an enlarged bore 50 in the lower end of the rod 38. Aspecial tool, not shown may be employed, such tool having threads whichengage the threads 16 of the lower end of the die casting 10 andcompress a sealing gasket in a counterbore around the special tool. Suchspecial tool may have a sealed plunger remotely operated from a powercylinder which plunger carries a plug 51 and drives such plug into the-bore 50 while the vacuum or positive pressure is maintained if the samebe desired thus sealing the interior of the shell from the atmosphere.

During the molding -of the plastic or other material 43 onto theexterior of the shell, the pressure applied thereto may tend to collapsethe shell assembly. lIn order to counteract such tendency, pressure maybe applied of an appropriate amount to the interior of the shell.

After the sealing operation is accomplished the special tool is removedand a base portion 54 is provided having a brass or steel reinforcingframe 55 of the desired conguration such base or frame having openingstherethrough in order that the material of `which the base is formed maypass through and be molded as an integral element around such frame. Thebase 54 readily may be replaced if worn or damaged or if desired forother reasons. The wear on the base sometimes is greater than on-certain other portions of the bowling pin, it being contemplated thatreplacement may be done if damage or excessive wear occurs in anyportion on the bottom of the base or `other parts of the pin. Thearrangement of the base is in accordance with prescribed regulations orrequirements.

In order to fasten the base 54 in position in the bottom of the pin ascrew is provided being an exteriorly threaded shank 56 with a plasticlocking plug 57, the screw having an enlarged head 58 which restsagainst the ilat surface 59 of the base and such head has a wrenchreceiving socket 6i).

The sleeve structure may have its internal pressure modified, forexample, by the introduction of additional pressure or the reverse andto the desired extent. This can be done as illustrated in FIG. 3 byomitting in FIG. 2' the openings 48 and 49 in the rod 38 and the counterbore Sil inwardly of the end of the rod 38, and by providing an opening61 in the tubular extension or sleeve 17 of the die casting whichprovides communication with the reduced bore 62 in the sleeve 17 forreceiving the plug 51', otherwise the structure is the same.

It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that various changes may bemade in the invention without departing from the spirit and scopethereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which isillustrated in the drawing and described in the specification, but onlyas indicated in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A bowling pin comprising (A) a hollow shell having an opening 50, 61providing communication with the interior thereof,

(a) said shell being formed of lower 10, intermediate 11, and upper 12,die castings,

(l) the lower 10 and upper 12 die castings having remote integrallythreaded portions,

(2) the lower 10 and intermediate 11 die castings having enlargedadjacent terminal portions 20 and 27,

(3) the intermediate casting 11 having a cylindrical enlargement 32 atits upper end and the upper casting 12 having a reduced Complementarylower portion 33 for iitting snugly within said enlargement 32,

(4) sealing means 35 between the intermediate 11 and upper 12 castings,

(5) gasket means 25 between said terminal portions 20 and 27,

(B) transverse supporting means 21 and 28 within said hollow shell,

(a) one 21 in the form of a ring with its margin 23 of greater axialdimension and width than said enlarged adjacent end portions 2t) and 27,

(C) a rod 38 having threads 40 and 39 engaging the threads in the upperand lower castings for fastening said castings together,

(D) closure means 51, 51 for the opening in said shell providingcommunication with the interior,

(E) a plastic coating 43 providing a relatively hard durable surface forsaid shell,

(F) a base 54, 54 for said lower casting,

(a) a reinforcing frame for said base and having openings therein,

(G) and fastening means 58, 58 for securing said base 54 to said lowercasting.

2. A bowling pin comprising (A) a hollow shell,

`(a) said shell having lower 10, intermediate 11,

upper segments 12,

(b) the lower 10 and intermediate 11 segments having enlarged terminalportions 20 and 27 and the lower 10 and upper segments having remoteinternally threaded axial portions 17 and 37,

(B) transverse supporting means 21 and 28 within said segments,

(a) one 21 in the form of a ring with its margin within the enlargedportions 20 and 27 and engaged on opposite sides thereby,

(C) a gasket 25 between said lower and intermediate segments,

(D) a rod 38 having threaded ends 39 and 40 engaging the threads in theupper and lower segments and having an opening providing communicationwith the interior of said shell,

(E) closure means for the opening in said rod,

(F) a plastic coating 43 providing a relatively hard durable surface forsaid shell, a base 54 and 54 for said shell, and fastening means 58, 58for securing said base to the lower end of said shell.

3. A bowling pin comprising a hollow shell including at least upper andlower segments, each segment having a threaded axial portion, saidsegments having cooperating terminal portions, transverse supportingmeans overlying said terminal portions and engaging said upper and lowersegments, rod means threadedly engaging said axial portions, said rodmeans being located entirely within said segments, said shell having anopening providing communication between the interior of said shell andthe atmosphere, plug means extending into said opening for closing thesame and rendering said shell airtight, and a plastic coating providinga relatively hard durable outer surface for said shell.

4. The structure of claim 3 including a removable base for said shell,and fastening means for securing said base to said lower segment.

5. The structure of claim 3 including weights carried by said rod meansfor balancing said bowling pin.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 828,415 8/1906Mayhew 273-82 1,053,654 2/1913 Seidel 273-82 1,519,835 12/1924Hedenskoog 273-82 2,166,950 7/1939 German et al. 273-82 2,515,715 7/1950Jones 273-63 X 2,775,456 12/1956 Schroeder et al. 273-82 2,797,9237/1957 Dettman 273-82 3,025,061 3/1962 Ernst et al. 273-82 3,048,4008/1962 Friedman 273-82 3,073,597 1/1963 Ernst 273-82 3,138,380 6/1964Satchell et al. 273-82 FOREIGN PATENTS 257,959 12/1926 Great Britain.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

DELBERT B. LOWE, C. B. PRICE, Assistant Examiners.

3. A BOWLING PIN COMPRISING A HOLLOW SHELL INCLUDING AT LEAST UPPER ANDLOWER SEGMENTS, EACH SEGMENT HAVING A THREADED AXIAL PORTION, SAIDSEGMENTS HAVING COOPERATING TERMINAL PORTIONS, TRANSVERSE SUPPORTINGMEANS OVERLYING SAID TERMINAL PORTIONS AND ENGAGING SAID UPPER AND LOWERSEGMENTS, ROD MEANS THREADEDLY ENGAGING SAID AXIAL PORTIONS, SAID RODMEANS BEING LOCATED ENTIRELY WITHIN SAID SEGMENTS, SAID SHELL HAVING ANOPENING PROVIDING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE INTERIOR OF SAID SHELL ANDTHE ATMOSPHERE, PLUG MEANS EXTENDING ITO SAID OPENING FOR CLOSING THESAME AND RENDERING SAID SHELL AIRTIGHT, AND A PLASTIC COATING PROVIDINGA RELATIVELY HARD DURABLE OUTER SURACE FOR SAID SHELL.